5 Aug 2010

ASB first big bank to lift mortgage rates

3:00 pm on 5 August 2010

ASB has become the first of the big banks to lift mortgage rates in response to the most recent increase in the Official Cash Rate.

It has raised interest rates for floating-rate and six-month mortgages by a quarter of a percentage point.

At the same time it has cut its rates for 18-month, two-year and five-year home loans by between 10 and 15 basis points.

Last week the Reserve Bank increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by a quarter of a percentage point.

The unexpected rise in the official unemployment rate announced on Thursday morning has stirred speculation that the Reserve Bank will call a halt to OCR rises at its next review in five weeks' time.